title: Effects of an ethyl ester preparation of fish oils (Himega) on lipids and lipoproteins in hyperlipidaemia.
abstract: Clinical trials were conducted to assess the utility of HimegaR in the management of hyperlipidaemia. Himega is an ethyl ester concentrate from fish oil containing at least 50% n-3 fatty acid and minimal cholesterol. In Study 1, 13 subjects with primary hypertriglyceridaemia consumed Himega or a triglyceride-based fish oil in a randomised, double-blind crossover study for 12 weeks. Nine subjects took 2 g/day of n-3 fatty acid but four subjects with marked hypertriglyceridaemia took 4 g/day. Plasma triglycerides were reduced by approximately 50% with either product. There was a very similar effect on all lipid and lipoprotein parameters, including an 18% increase in LDL cholesterol and 23% increase in serum apolipoprotein B. In Study 2, nine subjects with primary hypercholesterolaemia took 2 g/day of n-3 fatty acid (Himega) or placebo (olive oil) in a randomised, double-blind crossover study for nine weeks. Plasma cholesterol was reduced by 6%, without significant change in LDL cholesterol. Fish oils in the form of ethyl esters or triglyceride are assimilated to a similar degree and lead to equivalent triglyceride-lowering in hypertriglyceridaemia, while simultaneously increasing LDL particle numbers. Himega does not reduce LDL levels in hypercholesteraemia, despite being a product with minimal cholesterol content.
authors.affiliation: University of NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parfitt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balasubramaniam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; C067279:Himega; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol